Most of what went on at the Coach Meyer’s Buckeye Football Spring Kick-Off gala this afternoon was of the verbal – sometimes jab – variety. But then, there was the public unveiling of quarterback Braxton Miller’s new two-tone hairdo.

“Why? Why?” quartebacks coach Tom Herman implored Miller over the public address system, to the delight of the 600 or so who had paid to be part of the annual fund-raiser to benefit the Earle and Jean Bruce Alzheimer’s Research Fund in Neurology at Ohio State and the Urban and Shelley Meyer Cancer Research Fund.

“Back in the day when I had (more) hair I always wanted to dye my hair,” Miller said.

There you have it, the reason he now sports a bold, wide blonde streak over the middle of his head from forehead to the base of his skull. He didn’t have it the day before, and wore a cap to hide it as long as he could. But he took the cap off for a good cause today.

Some other highlights, so to speak, of the two-hour session included:

A – Defensive lineman Michael Bennett, on what he occasionally picks up from the offensive coaches, said “I don’t really pay attention to the offensive coaches. I’m just starting to learn their names.”

A – Wide receiver Devin Smith doing an impression of cornerbacks coach Kerry Coombs, saying he likes to put a move on Bradley Roby now and again just to hear the loud, raspy Coombs exclaim to Roby “Why did you do that? Why didn’t you intercept the ball, Bradley?”

A – Defensive line coach Mike Vrabel talking about going to dinner with his 62-year-old father late Tuesday night, and how a 23-year-old waitress recognized him and asked how it’s going, “ ‘since Ohio State hasn’t had to replace all four starters on the defensive line in 25 years.’ “

A – Urban Meyer introducing Herman, and remarking how Herman and Miller, who spend a lot of time together, are starting to look alike. Herman ran with it, saying Miller should be glad about being confused with him because “I don’t think a man could be paid a bigger compliment than that.” Of course, then he asked Miller to take off his cap.

A – Running backs coach Stan Drayton took a moment to thank the crowd and praise one of the beneficiaries of the fundraiser, theOSUJamesCancerHospital, where his father was treated for two years before passing away this past winter. Then he introduced his running backs with the qualifier “This is probably the most talented group collectively I’ve ever coached.”

A – Fifth-year senior running back/hybrid back Jordan Hall, who played in just three games of the 12-0 season last year due to injuries, said “I am looking forward to helping the team repeat what we did last year, plus two more games.” The Buckeyes served a post-season ban in 2012, which kept them out of the Big Ten title game and a bowl game.

A – Drayton on redshirt-freshman running back Warren Ball: “His nickname right now is Shakes. … He has a tendency to make a million moves just to make one yard.” In reality, Ball is having a stout spring.

A – Offensive line coach Ed Warinner, while introducing senior left tackle Jack Mewhort, said that for the good of the fans and the team, “We’re asking Jack to stay away from the Memorial golf tournament this year.” The crowd laughed, recalling that Mewhort and receiver Jake Stoneburner were chased down and arrested after being spotted relieving themselves on the side of a building outside aDublinrestaurant/bar in the wee hours of Saturday morning of last year’s Memorial.

A – Safeties coach Everett Withers talking about the big plays that could have been for the secondary last year, recalling “We had 14 interceptions. We dropped 28. We’ve got some work to do.”

A – Coombs, after addressing the crowd with a pep talk prompted by Meyer, then let folks know what the team thinks of the difference between kickers-punters and the rest of the roster. He asked nickel back Tyvis Powell to remind folks what the rest of the roster calls Tuesday practice, and Powell said “Toughness Tuesday.” He then asked kicker-punter Drew Basil what his ilk calls Tuesday practice, and Basil said “Turtleneck Tuesday.”

A – Linebackers coach Luke Fickell pointed out that sophomore linebacker Joshua Perry had on matching shoes but there was something different about his socks. “I can’t wear the same colored socks,” Perry explained.

A – Meyer on the Buckeys going 2-0 to start the Big Ten season last year against formidable opponents Michigan State and Nebraska, saying it made a difference not only in the 12-0 season, just the seventh unbeaten-untied year in OSU history, but in other ways, like the size of the crowd that showed up the Woody Hayes Athletic Center today. “If we’d started the Big Ten 0-2, you’d probably be throwing dinner rolls at your head coach as he came up here today … and more importantly, recruiting takes a hit.”